Like humans, with their complement of microbes that aid in everything from immune responses to nutrition, plants rely on a vast array of bacteria and fungi for health and defense. Over the last decade, research has revealed many new functional aspects of the crosstalk between human-associated microbes and human cells, but plant biologists are only beginning to scratch the surface of the often surprising ways that soil microbiota impact plants, from underground fungus-wired alarm systems to soil bacteria that can trigger defensive plant behavior or even act as a sort of vaccine. But despite these benefits, microbes are still primarily thought of as harbingers of disease……

Organic Solutions for Garden & Plant Pests

By Clifford Woods

There is a balance in nature that can be tapped into if you want to keep your garden and plants at their best. And when you want to cultivate and maintain an organic garden and naturally healthy plants it is much easier to work with Mother Nature than against her.

Many organic solutions for garden and plant pests are available. Simple, easy to make remedies you can try making yourself and try them out.

Here is a list of some combination and single mixtures to help in the fight against pests.

Diatomaceous Earth and Chile pepper: Grind up two handfuls of dry chilies into a very fine powder then mix this with 1 cup of Diatomaceous earth. Add to 2 liters of water and let set overnight. Shake well before using.

Chrysanthemum Flower Tea: These flowers hold a powerful plant chemical component called Pyrethrum. This substance invades the nervous system of insects rendering them immobile. You can make your own spray by boiling 100 grams of dried flowers into 1 liter of water. Boil the dried flowers in water for twenty minutes. Strain, cool and place in a spray bottle. This mixture can be stored for up to two months.

Tobacco: Take one cup of organic tobacco (preferably a tobacco that is natural) and mix it in one gallon of water. Leave overnight and after 24-hours it should have a light brown color. Add more water if it too dark. You can use this on most plants, except those belonging to the nightshade family of plants such potato, tomato, eggplant etc.

Salt Spray: This is used on plants that have spider mites. You can mix 2 tablespoons of Himalayan Crystal Salt into one gallon of warm water and spray on infected areas.

Orange Citrus Oil, Water and Soap: Mix together 3 tablespoons of liquid Organic Castile soap with 1 ounce of Orange oil to one gallon of water. Shake well. This is an especially efficient treatment against slugs and can be sprayed directly on ants and roaches also.

Eucalyptus oil: A natural pesticide for flies, bees and wasps. Simply sprinkle a few drops of eucalyptus oil where the insects are found.

Cayenne Pepper Mix or Citrus Oil: This is another excellent organic pesticide that controls ants. Mix 10 drops of citrus essential oil with one tsp. of cayenne pepper and 1 cup of warm water. Shake well and spray.

Mineral oil: This organic pesticide works well for dehydrating insects and their eggs. Mix 10-30 ml of high-grade oil with one liter of water. Stir and add to spray bottle.

Onion and Garlic Spray: Mince one organic clove of garlic and one medium sized organic onion. Add to 1 quart of water. Wait one hour and then add one teaspoon of cayenne pepper and one tablespoon of liquid soap to the mix. This organic spray will hold its potency for one week if stored in the refrigerator.

Neem: A very powerful & natural pesticide and you can make your own Neem oil spray. Simply add 1/2 an ounce of organic Neem oil and ½ teaspoon of a mild organic liquid soap to 2 quarts of warm water. Slowly stir it up and then pour it into a spray bottle and use right away.

Garlic Tea: Make your own garlic spray by boiling a pint of water, throw in roughly chopped garlic cloves and steep until the water is cool. Remove any garlic bits with cheesecloth and then pour into a spray bottle and use.

Basil Tea: Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add 1-cup fresh basil. Remove from heat, cover and let cool. Then mix in 1 tsp. of liquid dish detergent. Pour into a spray bottle and use. Basil Tea is good for combating aphids.

Simple-Simple – for both garden and house plants: Mix 1 cup Sunlight dish soap and 1 tbs. of vegetable oil together and then store the liquid in a plastic air tight container. When you need to use it, take 2 teaspoons of this liquid and mix it with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray top and under the plants leaves and any new shoots and buds. When it is hot, repeat every third day – 3 applications over 7 days. In the cooler weather you only need to use it once a week for 3 weeks.

Employing organic solutions for garden and plant pest control would go hand in hand with the soil being organic as well. If you have been using store bought chemical fertilizers and are trying to transition out of this method, be patient. Soil goes through both many changes with the transition from a chemical to organic fertilizer is made. It can take the soil quite a while to adjust. Plants can often go through a few stages of poor yields before producing at peak performance.

An easy transition and sure fire method is adding some Beneficial Microorganisms as they are naturally already in the soil. It is just a matter of populating the soil with these beneficial
microbes – they will do the rest.

Gardens, Soil and Beneficial Microorganisms

By Clifford Woods

Microorganisms, microbes or bacteria make nutrients available in the soil for plants in a form that the plants then can use. Microbes create some of those nutrients, Mother Nature creates hers and we add the rest.

Some microbes consume nutrients and some microbes eat the microbes that have consumed the nutrients. This in turn breaks the nutrients down into a smaller form so they can be absorbed much more efficiently by the plant.

Microbes perform different jobs. Some defend against non-beneficial microbes and this helps keep the plant’s natural defence system at it’s best. Some microbes can also convert nitrogen gas in the air into a form that the plants can use.

Microorganisms release different types of proteins, acids, enzymes and other essential elements. These elements help to break down trace minerals, micro and macro-nutrients and make it available as food for the plant. What happens is an extreme increase in root mass, which in turn increases the nutrient intake that creates bigger yields. Enzymes and anti-microbial substances are particularly crucial in plants.

Beneficial microorganisms can also help condition and aerate soil, and create a better drainage system. Some beneficial microorganisms also have the ability to break down toxins in the soil or soil-less mix and turn it into plant food, air and water. They also covert calcium and phosphate into something that plants can actually use.

A good rule of thumb as to which microorganism is beneficial and which is not is the harmful or pathogenic microorganisms cause putrefaction and beneficial microorganisms cause fermentation.

Types of Beneficial Microorganisms:

Lactic acid: make lactic acid from sugars or other carbohydrates. This is an important by-product because it can act as a strong fertilizer. It will control or push down non-beneficial or harmful microbes as well as cause rapid decomposition of organic matter and ferments organic matter without the smell and other harmful outcomes.

Photosynthetic: these take harmful products like hydrogen sulfide and make them into useful substances. With the help of sunlight, secretions from organic matter can also be made into amino acids, nucleic acids, and bioactive substances. These aid tremendously in the growth of a plant and it’s development. Amino acids are the basic building blocks of proteins. Synthesis of new protein is what Nucleic acids are responsible for and this allows the characteristics of an organism to transfer from one generation to another. Bioactive substances are important in the regulation of the function of both plants and animals, which include hormones, enzymes, and neurotransmitters, among others.

Yeasts: these create a better root system and helps with the absorption of more water and nutrients from the soil. This will in turn speed up plant growth, producing more and wider leaves so the plant will produce starch. Plants use glucose as energy; but starch can be stored more efficiently and for longer periods of time.Plants use the sun for energy so at night the plants convert the stored starch back to glucose to provide the basic energy needed to maintain basic cellular functions.

If you want to keep the populations of beneficial microorganisms healthy here is what you don’t do.

Do not use chemical fertilizers: fertilizers are made up of salts, and salts suck the water out of the microbes, which will either kill them or cause them to go into a dormant state.

Do not use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2): H2O2 adds oxygen to water, lowers algae levels and can help suppress diseases within plants. It helps sterilize water and the growing medium to kill harmful microorganisms, but it will also kill the beneficial microorganisms. Not good.

Do not use chemical pesticides: these get sprayed onto leaves to kill harmful insects, but they also kill the beneficial microbes that are present on the leaves. The pesticides then drip off the leaves and into the soil and again, kill any beneficial microbes present in that soil or soil-less mix.

Don’t walk on the soil or compact it: over-tilling and compaction can kill some beneficial microbe populations since some microbes need air to survive. Worms can do the work of turning it in for you.

Do add at least an inch of organic compost a year: this will replenish the nutrients that the plants have used that season and handle pests with natural and organic remedies.

Beneficial microorganisms bring back the lost properties of the soil and are commonly used in natural farming and organic gardens.

Healthy And Clean Aquariums With Beneficial Microorganisms

By Clifford Woods

Your fish tank requires regular cleaning if you want to keep the water sparkling and everything that’s swimming in it alive. It also helps keep bad odor at bay which can easily fill up the room. It’s a good thing that individuals who love viewing aquatic animals at home can enjoy healthy and clear aquariums with Beneficial Microorganisms, or BM for short.

BM for fish tanks come in liquid form. Just like what the name reveals, it consists of millions of beneficial bacteria. Each of them works in a synergistic way, which means that one enhances the job rendered by the other. Together, they eliminate microbes that are responsible for the acceleration of water pollution and the production of bad odor.

Although it is said that there are over 80 types of bacteria present, all of them can be classified into five groups. They include lactic acid bacteria, photosynthetic bacteria, actinomycetes, yeasts and fungi. BM contains microorganisms that can live in environments with oxygen as well as in areas where the gas is absent (aerobic and anaerobic respectively).

It’s not just water in the tank that benefits from the use of BM, but also all the other living organisms in it. This means that both the fish and plants can stay healthier in an environment that is more suitable for their existence. For home owners, BM spares them from the back-breaking task of having the water and everything else in the tank cleaned regularly.

Taking advantage of Beneficial Microorganisms is as simple as pouring the right amount of liquid in the water on a monthly basis. Ideally, you have to add an ounce of it for every 10 gallons of water. No mixing or any other special preparation is necessary as you pour it into the fish tank straight from the container. It’s a good idea to make sure that it is evenly dispersed in the water.

Whether your fish tank contains fresh or salt water, BM helps in providing your aquatic animals and plants a healthier and cleaner environment. Do take note that this product is not genetically or chemically produced. It’s 100% natural and organic. This means you are not adding anything into the water that can be harmful to any living organism found in it, except for microbes that contribute to water pollution, bad odor and even diseases that affect marine life.

The many other uses of BM serve as proofs that it’s very safe. It’s being utilized by organic farmers to enrich and improve the condition of soil, leading to better agricultural productivity. Cheese, bread, beer, yogurt, pickles and other fermented food items are also made possible because of it. BM is used for sanitizing medical facilities, as well as for cleaning sewers and oil spills. It is useful in eliminating bad odor and preventing the spread of diseases in animal industries and zoos.

It’s easier to maintain healthy and clear aquariums with Beneficial Microorganisms. Pollution and bad bacteria that contribute to a poor environment for fish and plants can be eliminated on a microscopic level. It’s good for fish tanks containing several gallons of fresh or salt water, as well as ponds that can be really difficult to keep in an excellent condition.

Once you follow the simple guidelines to healthy and clear aquariums with Beneficial Microorganisms, everything else comes easy. The health of your fish will be improved as the water quality is much better. This also implies that you have less work to do in terms of dealing with issues such as disease and infections.

Depending on your schedule, always set a date at least every month to siphon any debris from the gravel. This will ensure that your tank is sparkling clean. You will worry less about your fish with Beneficial Microorganisms.

Healthy and clear aquariums with Beneficial Microorganisms are easier to maintain given the mentioned facts.

These general guidelines should help you during the initial stages as you will learn more over time and get acquainted with more detailed requirements.
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